An open access dataset to explore public perception of natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and Sweden

Abstract:

Crises often shape the way in which people perceive risk. Knowing how people’s perceptions of natural hazards change in the context of global threats, such as epidemics and climate change, is key in understanding behavioral responses and developing policies of disaster risk reduction. In this context, we present a dataset based on a longitudinal survey of public risk perception in Italy and Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first survey (N ~ 4000) was conducted in August 2020, when COVID-19 infection rates in both in Italy and Sweden were relatively low, while the second one (N ~ 4000) was conducted in November 2020, when both countries faced accelerating rates of infections. The dataset covers nine hazards, both natural (floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, climate change, and epidemics) and man-made (terror attacks, domestic violence, and economic crises). The survey examines perceived likelihoods and impacts, perceived individual and authorities’ preparedness and knowledge, and socio-demographic indicators. The resulting dataset has the potential to enable a plethora of analyses on social, cultural and institutional factors influencing the way in which people perceive multiple risks. In addition, the longitudinal approach allows to follow the evolution of public risk perception over time, and thus provides insights into how major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic influence the way in which people think about multiple hazards.